Sleeping Bags Need Proper Cleaning After Usage

After an outing, sleeping bags should be cleaned if necessary and properly stored, rather than just tossed into a closet, says an official of a firm that produces camping equipment.

``If bags are not completely dry when stored, they often become musty and mildewy,`` says Beverly Crown, marketing vice president for Henderson Camp Products, which has its headquarters in Chicago.

``Even if you and your crew remember to turn bags inside out to air-dry before storing, there comes a time when every sleeping bag needs to be washed,`` she adds.

If you have bought your sleeping bag in the last 10 years, she notes, the insulation material, or ``loft,`` is probably a synthetic blend such as Hollofil, Quallofil, Polyfill, PolarGuard or other blends.

``These machine-washable materials are the most forgiving,`` she says, ``while down requires separate hand washing. Of course it`s a good idea to follow the manufacturer`s instructions for care, but often this label has become detached or is blurred,`` says Crown, who offers these tips:

--Her standard, hard and fast advice, and the advice of many other manufacturers for cleaning all bags, is to avoid dry cleaning.

Dry cleaners use a variety of unpredictable solvents, and even a small amount of cleaning impurity may break down the insulating characteristics of the bag. Many people also prefer to avoid chemicals, which can become absorbed in the fabric, in a close-breathing environment.

--All sleeping bags can be hand washed, and down bags or very old bags definitely should be hand washed.

Fill the bathtub with warm water and mix in a mild soap or detergent. Submerge the bag and let it soak for several hours, with an occasional turn. Gently scrub soiled areas with a sponge or by rubbing edges together.

Instead of lifting the bag out of the water to drain -- which may put too much pressure on the seams -- drain water from tub and gently press out as much water as possible. Rinse and drain.

Carefully support bag with hands when lifting it out of the tub. Place on towels and air-dry flat, turning the bag over and inside out. Down may take several days to completely dry.

--A majority of sleeping bags are made with synthetic blend insulation fillings and can be machine washed. Use only front-loading commercial type machines. These machines not only have more room, but they toss the bag in a circular motion, which is easier on the bag than rotating action. Home machines with rotary agitation are too harsh for bags.

Use a mild soap or detergent. When the cycle is completed, lift the bag gently and place it in the dryer, using a gentle, low-heat setting. Throw a clean sneaker with laces removed into the dryer to help fluff up the loft.

--The best method of storing a bag is to hang it up in the closet, using a large clothes hanger or the tie-loop on the bag. If you roll the bag for storage, roll loosely and leave it outside the stuffing sack.

With proper care, sleeping bags can last a lifetime, says Crown, who has camped and backpacked extensively in the United States, Europe and the Himalayas.